Artwork
Madonna and Child
Madonna and Child is a paint painting by the Flemish Baroque painting artist Peter Paul Rubens. It dates from 1625 and is held in the collection of the Gemäldegalerie Berlin.
About this work
Overview
Peter Paul Rubens painted a Madonna and Child in 1625, employing oil on canvas. The work exemplifies the Flemish Baroque style with its vigorous arrangement and saturated palette. Currently the canvas is part of the collection of the Gemäldegalerie in Berlin.
Subject & Meaning
The composition shows the Virgin Mary in a red robe nursing the infant Jesus, who reaches toward her breast. A large open book rests on a table before her, while a bowl overflowing with peaches, grapes and other fruit lies to her right. Pink and white blossoms frame the scene, underscoring themes of nourishment and fertility.
Technique & Style
Rubens renders the figures with his characteristic flesh tones and fluid brushwork, creating a sense of movement within a tranquil setting. The rich coloration of the red garment and the vivid fruit contrasts with the soft, atmospheric landscape background, illustrating the Baroque interest in dramatic light and color.
History & Provenance
Completed in the mid‑1620s, the painting entered the German capital’s Gemäldegalerie at an unspecified date, where it remains on display. Its provenance prior to acquisition by the museum is not extensively documented in the available sources.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Sir Peter Paul Rubens ( ROO-bənz; Dutch: ; 28 June 1577 – 30 May 1640) was a Flemish artist and diplomat.
